08-November-2005, 05:03 AM
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Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: Arkansas, USA
Posts: 1,266
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Ex-shuttle pilot and Lockheed Martin VP tapped to head Johnson Space Center
From the Houston Chronicle story:
Quote:
NASA today named a former astronaut to head the Johnson Space Center, home of Mission Control.
Michael L. Coats, who joined NASA in 1978 and has most recently worked as a vice president for Lockheed Martin, will replace Jefferson D. Howell Jr. as the center's director. Howell announced plans earlier this month to return to the University of Texas, where he graduated, to teach.
Coats, who flew on three shuttle missions and logged a total of 463 hours in space, retired from NASA in 1991.
"As a former pilot and astronaut, and a longtime aerospace industry executive, he knows what our next generation of manned spacecraft must be able to do, and he knows what it takes to produce them," NASA Administrator Michael Griffin said of Coats. "I'm delighted to welcome Mike back home to NASA."
Coats said he looks forward to his return to the space center, where he says he'll be committed to the shuttle program and space station, which he says are critical steps in getting back to the moon and onto Mars.
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From the NASA press release:
Quote:
Michael L. Coats has been named director of NASA's Johnson Space Center. Coats is a former astronaut, and he currently is vice president of Lockheed Martin Astronautics in Denver. He will become the ninth person to serve as director in the center's 44-year history.
"Mike Coats brings a perfect blend of experience to his new role as the head of the nation's primary center for human spaceflight development and operations," said NASA Administrator Michael Griffin. "As a former pilot and astronaut, and a long-time aerospace industry executive, he knows what our next generation of manned spacecraft must be able to do, and he knows what it takes to produce them. I'm delighted to welcome Mike back home to NASA."
Coats joined NASA in 1978 as a member of the first astronaut class specifically selected to fly the space shuttle. He flew three shuttle missions, the first as pilot for the maiden flight of Discovery in 1984. He commanded two subsequent shuttle missions, logging a total of more than 463 hours in space. Before joining NASA he was a distinguished U.S. Navy aviator. He logged more than 5,000 hours of flight time in 28 different types of aircraft. He retired from NASA and the Navy in August 1991.
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Last edited by Cylinder; 08-November-2005 at 07:49 AM..
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